Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com

Sermon #2401 — Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: Sovereign Grace

Text: Psalm 86:8-10

Date: Sunday Morning — March 11, 2018

Twinbrook Hills Baptist Church

Hamilton, Ohio

Subject: Five Stubborn Statements

Introduction:

When your pastor, Bro. Miller, asked me to come up here to preach the gospel to you this week, he specifically asked that we make this a sovereign grace meeting. — I was delighted. It is my delight to preach the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. So, we will begin this morning in the 86^th Psalm. My subject is — Sovereign Grace. That’s the title of my message. That’s my subject — Sovereign Grace.

(Psalm 86:8-10) “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. (9) All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. (10) For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”

I’ve got a message on my heart that’s popping to get out. I am here to issue a call to dogmatism. I issue this call to you, to this congregation and your pastor. It is a call I issue to myself and to our congregation in Danville, and a call I issue to every local church, every pastor, every missionary, every evangelist, and every man who claims to be a preacher of the gospel. If I could have the ear of every preacher in the world, I would say to them all, “Either proclaim the gospel of Christ, the gospel of God’s free and sovereign God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, with bold God honoring, dogmatism, or shut up, get out of the way, and let somebody else do it.” I am sick to death of mealy-mouthed, pussy-footing preachers who are scared to death of offending anyone except God!

Standing before eternity bound sinners, speaking in the name of God, as I now do, it is my responsibility to deliver to you the Word of God. When I do, I claim for myself the right to be heard. I do not preach without preparation. I do not give out leftover, rehashed sermons. And I do not simply repeat that which I have heard someone else say, or something I have copied out of a book.

When I come to the pulpit to preach the gospel, what I preach to you in forty-five minutes is the result of many hours of labor in study and prayer, labor spent for your soul. That gives me the right to be heard. But that does not give me the right to be believed, obeyed, and followed. I do not claim for myself a right to blind loyalty and allegiance. No man, no matter how sincere he may appear to be, myself included, is to be given unqualified allegiance (Read 1 John 4:1). It is your responsibility to try what I say by the Word of God. That is what we read in the Book of God. — “To the Law and to the Testimony” (to the Doctrine of Christ revealed in the Testimony of God given in the Book of Holy Scripture) “if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is not light in them!” — Compare that with what the Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 1:6-8.

(Galatians 1:6-8) “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

I have come here this hour to tell you who God is and how God saves sinners by his free and sovereign grace in Christ. And, I believe God the Holy Ghost has given me the message to do it, if he will speak by me to your hearts.

God Alone

Let me begin by stating that which we read in Psalm 86:10. — “Thou art God alone!” He who is God alone is an absolute sovereign. Sovereign grace begins with and is the work of a sovereign God. And he who is the sovereign God is God alone. Either God almighty is absolutely sovereign, in total control of all things, at all times, or there is no God. There is no middle ground between these two poles, between God’s absolute, total sovereignty and absolute, total atheism. To speak of a god who is not totally sovereign is utter nonsense. Atheism is far more sensible than Arminianism. If God is, he is sovereign!

(Psalms 135:5-6) “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. (6) Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”

(Daniel 4:34-37) “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation: (35) And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest Thou? (36) At the same time, my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. (37) Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

The one true and living God, he who is God alone, is absolutely sovereign…

· In Predestination (Ephesians 1:3-7).

· In Creation (Proverbs 16:4).

· In Providence (Romans 8:28-30; 11:33-36).

· In Salvation (Romans 9:11-26 — Romans 9:16).

(Isaiah 46:9-11) “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (11) Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

Five Stubborn Statements

Here are five stubborn, irrefutable statements. They go right to the heart of true Christianity. You will either accept or reject these five statements. There is no middle ground; and you will find it impossible to be indifferent regarding them. There is no room for compromise on any of these five points.

Total Depravity

1. Either man is totally depraved, utterly dead in trespasses and in sins, or there is nothing wrong with him and he needs no Savior.

There is no such thing as partial depravity or partial goodness before God. Either we are totally sinful and totally depraved or we are totally righteous and totally good. There is no middle ground.

· Utterly Dead, without Ability

· Utterly Corrupt

(Psalms 14:2-3) “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. (3) They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

(Jeremiah 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Do you know what happened in the Garden?

· The human race sinned.

· The human race died.

· The human race became depraved.

The Book of God teaches the total depravity of man (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-5).

Unconditional Election

2. Either God chose some of Adam’s fallen race to salvation and eternal life in Christ before the world began, as the Bible says he did, or there is no possibility of salvation for anyone. Contrary to popular opinion, election is not a cuss word. It is a Bible word. — What a blessed, blessed word it is! But most people are totally unaware that this Book teaches election.

Illustration: The “Soul Winners” in Fort Worth

· Salvation begins with election (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

· Salvation is God’s prerogative, not man’s.

· Grace is God’s gift, not man’s choice.

· Salvation is by God’s will, not man’s will.

· It is by God’s choice, not your choice.

· If God does not choose to save and choose whom he will save, no sinner can ever be saved.

(Romans 9:13-18) “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. (17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. (18) Therefore, hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

Limited Atonement

3. Either the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God is altogether and alone the effectual Redeemer and Savior of his people, or he is a fraud and a failure.

Again, there is no middle ground, no room for compromise. Either Christ did what he came here to do, or he is a failure. If he is a failure, he is not God, and we have no Savior.

(Isaiah 53:10-11) “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

“The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ shall never be discovered a miscarriage.”

——Thomas George Lawrence

· Sovereignty

· Substitution (Real Substitution — Penal Sacrifice — Just Satisfaction — 2 Corinthians 5:21)

· Satisfaction

· Success

The Book of God teaches limited atonement as plainly and clearly as it teaches the virgin birth.

Irresistible Grace

4. Either we are regenerated and called to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power and effectual grace of God the Holy Ghost, or there is no such thing as salvation.

The only hope for a dead sinner is free and sovereign grace, grace that asks for nothing and gives everything, grace that waits for nothing and does everything.

(Psalms 65:4) “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”

(Psalms 110:3) “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”

(John 6:63) “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

The Book of God teaches irresistible grace. Grace is not an offer, but an operation of God. The only way dead sinners can live is if God gives them life. The new birth is a resurrection from the dead (John 5:25; Revelation 20:6).

· Ezekiel 16

· Ezekiel 37

· Lazarus

Illustration: Preaching in the Cemetery

Certain Perseverance

5. Either every saved sinner shall persevere to the end, being preserved and kept by God’s infallible, immutable grace, or none shall.

The Book of God teaches the absolutely certain preservation and perseverance of God’s elect. The perseverance of the saints is demanded by the purpose of God, the purchase of Christ, and the power of the Spirit. — “They shall never perish!”

(Philippians 1:6) “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

(Jeremiah 32:37-42) “Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: (38) And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: (39) And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. (41) Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. (42) For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.”

(Jude 1:1) “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.”

(Jude 1:24-25) “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”

· The purpose of God cannot be frustrated.

· The blood of Christ cannot be nullified.

· The promise of God cannot be broken.

· The seal of the Spirit cannot be broken.

Sovereign grace is grace that assures every sinner who comes to Christ that he is saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, immediately saved, everlastingly saved, and eternally saved.

(John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

(2 Timothy 1:9-10) God “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

(John 6:37) “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

What does it mean to be saved by Christ?

· Chosen of God!

· Redeemed by Christ!

· Born again!

· Completely Forgiven!

· Fully Justified!

· Perfectly Holy!

· Utterly Secure!

Come humble sinner, in whose breast

A thousand thoughts revolve;

Come with your guilt and fear oppressed,

And make this last resolve.

“I’ll go to Jesus, though my sins

Like mountains round me close;

I know His courts, I’ll enter in,

Whatever may oppose.

“Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne,

And there my guilt confess;

I’ll tell Him I’m a wretch undone

Without His sovereign grace.

I’ll to the gracious King approach,

Whose scepter pardon gives;

Perhaps He may command my touch,

And then the suppliant lives!

Perhaps He will admit my plea,

Perhaps will hear my prayer;

But if I perish, I will pray,

And perish only there.

I can but perish if I go,

I am resolved to try;

For if I stay away, I know,

I must forever die.

But if I die with mercy sought,

When I the King have tried,

This were to die (Delightful thought!) —

As sinner never died!”

Amen.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s